Automatic firearm breechblock lock,the control member of which is latched by a gas operated setting member



Oct. 2l, 1969 H. BRIE-:GER 3,473,434

AUTOMATIC FIREARM BREECHBLOCK LOCK, THE CONTROL MEMBER OF WHICH IS LATCHED BY A GAS OPERATED SETTING MEMBER Filed May l0, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.3 Fig.4

5 IYQI 7 l 3 i 2 f\\ 2 y HANS BMEGER r mvemn.

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Oct. 2l, 1969 H. BRlEGER 3,473,434

AUTOMA FIREARM BRECHBLOCK LOCK, CONTROL T'EME,

WHICH IS LATC D BY A GAS P RATED SETTI MEMBER Filed May l0, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E; E m

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@y 10mm ,Za/u 10W. Many Oct. 21, 1969 H. BRlEGER 3,473,434

AUTOMATIC FIREAR 'REECHBLOCK LOCK, THE CONTROL E'EI'E OF WHICH LATCHED BY A GAS OPERATED NG MEMBER SETTI Filed May l0, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 EEES? HAN BRlEGER mvsNrorL wmmawww H. BRIEGER AUTOMATIC FIREARM BREECHBLOCK LOCK., tizi A OF WHICH IS LATCHED BY A GAS OPERATED SETTING MEMBER Filed May l0. 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

HANS BNEGER. mvemoe, UWM L #10M MW Oct- 21, 1969 H. BRIEGER 3,473,434

AUTOMATIC FIREAR rREECI'IE'LOCI'( LOCK,

CONTROL MEMBER OF WHICH LATCHED BY A GAS RATED SETTING MEMBER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May l0, 1968 Fig. 9 6

HANS BRI EGEQ. .mung

@MMX-MW W United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 89-181 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic firearm having a breech casing With a breechblock which can be locked in its firing position. A control member to control the locking of the breechblock is displaceable in a path from a striking position into an operative and an inoperative position. When the control member is in the striking position, stop members project into the path thereof and prevent the recoil of the control member into the inoperative position. A setting member, which is driven by the gas pressure after the firing of a cartridge, pushes the stop members out of the path of the control member after the recoil of the latter.

This invention relates to an automatic firearm having a mushroom head which can be locked in its tiring position in a breech casing by means of a control member, While the control member can be displaced backwards, by means of a setting member driven .by the gas pressure after the tiring of a cartridge, out of a striking position in which the mushroom head is locked into an inoperative position in which the mushroom head is released, with members which project into the path of the control member in order to brake the recoil of the control member and which bear against the breech casing and can be displaced out of the path of the control member.

In a known lirearm of this kind, the members comprise movable brake elements which, when the control member is in the striking position engage in a notch in the control member provided with a friction surface. With this weapon, it is necessary for the spring-loaded brake element to be disengaged automatically from the control member after the braking of the latter as it recoils from the mushroom head. After the disengagement, the control member can move back without hinderance as a result of which there is a risk of the mushroom head being released prematurely.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a iirearm wherein, during the recoil, the control member can be brought into the inoperative position exclusively by the setting action. t

A further object is to provide a construction wherein the members are in the form of a stop which is in the path during the recoil movement of the control member and limits the recoil in such a manner that the control member is still in its operative position and that, after the recoil, the stop can be displaced out of the path of the control member by the setting member driven by the gas pressure.

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent from the detailed description below, some embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings in which:

FIGURE l shows a longitudinal axial section through a portion of a firearm with a breechblock illustrated diagrammatically in the locked position;

3,473,434 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 ICC FIGURE 2 shows the same as in FIGURE 1 with the breechblock in the unlocked position;

1 FIGURE 3 is a section on the line III- III in FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 is a section on the line IV-IV in FIGURE FIGURE 5 is a section on the line V-V in FIGURE 3 in accordance with a first embodiment;

5 FIGURE 6 is a section on the line VI-VI in FIGURE FIGURE 7 is a section on the line VII-VII in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective illustration of the firearm ccording to the first embodiment as shown in FIGURES FIGURE 9 is a section on the line V-V in FIGURE 3 in accordance with a second embodiment;

FIGURE 10 is a section on the line X--X in FIGURE 9.

According to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is a breechblock having a mushroom head 1 and a control member 2 associated with the breechblock in a breech casing 6. This breechblock is displaceable in the breech casing. In its foremost position, the tiring position, the breechblock bears against a surface S5 and against a cartridge 87 present in the breech casing 6. Secured to the control member 2 is a striker pin 86 which tires the cartridge 87 inthe iiring position.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the control member 2, located at the axis 91 of the weapon, is displaceably mounted in a recess 3 in the mushroom head of the breechblock 1 and is in driving connection with two coupling members 4 through a projection 7 in each case. The coupling members are each mounted in a chamber which is formed by a web 5 of the mushroom head 1 and a side wall of the breech casing 6. Each of the two coupling members 4 is in driving connetcion, through a dog 9, with a sleeve 8 mounted outside the breech casing 6. The dog 9 is secured to the sleeve 8 and projects through the lbreech casing 6 into a recess in the coupling member 4. Each of the sleeves 8 is mounted for displacement in a support 10. A breech-closing spring 11 mounted in the interior of `the sleeve 8 (FIGURE 5) bears on the one hand against the front end of the sleeve 8 and on the other hand against the rear end of the support 10` and tends to urge the sleeve 8 forwards.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the supports 10 are pivotally secured to the breech casing l6. For this purpose, an extension 12, which is pivotable about a pin 13 secured to the breech casing 6, is provided at the front end of the support 10. The mushroom head 1 comprises two recesses in each of which there is pivotally mounted a bolt 14. Two recesses are provided in the breech casing 6 with detent surfaces 15 against which the bolts bear when the mushroom head is in the tiring position.

According to a iirst example illustrated in FIGURES 5, 6 and 8, the front end of the sleeve 8 comprises, at the side directed towards the breech casing 6, an extension 16 which is bounded at the rear by a face 17 directed perpendicular to the axis of the weapon and by a face 1S extending parallel to this axis. At both sides of the breech casing 6, supports 20 which are constructed in the form of slides are inserted for displacement in recesses 23. 'Ihese recesses 23 are formed in two walls 24, only one of which is illustrated, of the breech casing 6. The dogs 21, which are connected to these supports 20, (FIGURE 8) are held, in the manner of a bayonet catch, in grooves 22 (FIGURE 5) which are cut in the breech casing 6.

A pin 26, which has a sleeve-like end 29, is mounted for displacement in a bore 25 extending perpendicular to the axis of the weapon in the support 20 (FIGURE 5).

At the opposite, outwardly-directed end of the pin 26 -there is provided a surface 27 which is disposed at right angles to the axis of the weapon, as well as a surface 88 which is inclined in relation to the axis of the weapon. The surface 27 is parallel to the surface 17 on the extension 16 on the sleeve 8 and, when the control member 2 is in the stop position, is a short distance behind the surface 17 as can be seen from FIGURE 5, actually at a position in the path of the sleeve 8 at which the control member has not yet reached its inoperative position.

An arm 28, which is secured to the pin 26 and directed forwards, engages Ithrough a slot 30 in the bore 25 provided in the support 20. This arm 28 bears with its surface 31, parallel to the axis of the weapon, against an end of the slot 30 under the action of a spring 32 which is in a sleeve 33 which is displaceable in the sleeve-like end 29 of the pin 26. The spring 32 tends to urge the head of the sleeve 33 against the bottom of the recess 23 in the breech casing 6. A sleeve 35, which comprises a head portion 36, is mounted for displacement in a bore 34, directed parallel to the axis of the sleeve 8, in the support 20. A pin 38 secured to the head portion 36 of the sleeve 35 engages in a slot 39 which extends parallel to the axis of the bore 34 and is cut in the support 20, as a result of which the travel which the sleeve 35 can execute in relation to the support is limited. Under the action of a spring 37 provided in the sleeve 35, the support 20 is urged forwards until the dog 21 on the support 20 bears against the end of the groove 22 in the breech casing 6. The sleeve 35 bears against a face 42 of a pin 41 which extends transversely to the axis of the weapon and which is in a bore 40` in the breech casing 6.

The breech casing 6 has a groove 43 extending perpendicular to the axis of the weapon at each side (FIGURE In each of these grooves 43 there is a lever 44 which is secured to a pin 45. The pins 45 are mounted on the one hand in the breech casing 6 and on the other hand in a base member 46 connected thereto (FIGURE 6). The end of a backwardly-directed arm 47 (FIGURE 5) of the lever 44 cooperates with the arm 28 on the pin 26. An extension 48 on the lever 44 has a face 49 which is inclined in relation to the axis of the weapon. This face 49 projects partially within range of a release rod 50 mounted for displacement in the breech casing 6. A return spring 89 tends to hold the release rod 50 in its foremost position.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the lower portion of the breech casing 6 has a recess which is formed by the walls 24, only one of which is illustrated, and in which there is the base member 46. As shown in FIGURE 7, the base member 46 is secured in the walls 24 of the breech casing 6 by means of two pins 51. A groove 52 of T- shaped cross-section, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the weapon, is provided in the base member 46. A carriage 53 is mounted in this groove 52. A spring 90, which `bears on the one hand against the base member 46 and on the other hand against the carriage 53, tends to urge the carriage 53 towards the rear. This carriage 53 comprises a groove 54 extending transversely of the axis of the weapon. Mounted in each of grooves 55, extending perpendicular to the groove 52 and leading into this groove, in the base member 46 is a lever 56, which levers are likewise secured to the pin 45 and the arms 57 of which engage in the carriage groove 54.

As shown in FIGURE 6, a groove 61 of T-Shaped crosssection, directed parallel to the axis of the weapon, is provided in one of the side walls 24 of the breech casing 6. This groove 61 serves to guide a housing 62 (FIGURE 7) in which there is secured the end of a tube 63 directed towards the rear and extending parallel to the axis of the sleeve 8. Mounted in this tube 63 is a spring 64 which bears on the one hand against the housing 62 and on the other hand against a member not illustrated in the drawing, which is connected to the breech casing 6. Anchored in a sleeve 65 secured to the front end of the housing 62 is one end of a wire cable 66 which forms part of a cocking mechanism, not illustrated in the drawing, for the breechblock 1, 2. The end face 19 of the extension 16 secured to the sleeve 8 is behind a dog 67 secured to the housing 62 (FIGURE 8), into the path of which the end face 19 partially projects. The wall 68 of the housing 62 adjacent to the ybreech casing -6 comprises a slot 69 extending in the direction of the tube 63. Two bores 70 and 71, coaxial with one another, are provided in the wall 24 of the-breech casing 6 and in the base member 46, perpendicular to this slot 69. Mounted for displacement in the bore 71 provided in the base member 46 is a sleeve 72 which comprises an extension 73 which extends into the slot 69 in the housing 62 and the end face 74 of which is inclined in` relation to the axis of the weapon. A face 75, which is substantially parallel to the face 74, is provided at the front end of the housing 62. The sleeve 72 comprises a recess 76 which extends parallel to its axis and in which there engages a pin 77 secured to the base member 46. Under the pressure of a spring 78, mounted in the sleeve 72 and bearing against the base member 46, the end of this recess 76 adjacent to the axis of the weapon bears against the pin 77. Manually actuated means, not illustrated, which act on the sleeve 72, enable the sleeve 72 to be displaced against the force of the spring 78 until the extension 73 no longer projects into the slot in the housing 62.

The lever 56, which is mounted at the same side as the cocking mechanism, comprises an arm 81 which is in an extension of the grove 55 in the base member 46 and projects through a slot 82 provided in the wall 24 of the breech casing 6. The front face 83, which is inclined in relation to the axis of the weapon, on this arm 81, is urged against the rear end face of the housing 62 by the force of the spring 90 acting on the carriage 53 and transmitted to the lever 56. The end face of the housing 62 is urged, by the spring 64, against a face 84 of a securing pin 51 acting as a stop. In this position of the carriage 53, determined by the striking of the lever arm 81 against the housing 62, the arms 47 of the levers 44, which are in driving connection with the carriage 53, bear against the arms 28 of the pins 26.

The mode of operation of the rearm described is as follows: When the rearm is tired, the breechblock 1, 2 travels into the ring position as shown in FIGURE 1 under the inuence of the breech-closing springs 11, and after the mushroom head 1 has reached its foremost position in which it bears against the face 85 of the breech casing 6, the control member 2 travels further and urges the bolts 14 outwards so that these bear against the faces 15 in the breech casing 6 and prevent the mushroom head 1 from moving towards the rear. The control member 2 then reinforces these bolts 14 and prevents them from leaving the locking position. When the front end position or striking position is reached, the striker pin 86 connected to the control member 2 tires the cartridge 87.

While the sleeves 8 are moving into the front end position (FIGURE 5), which corresponds to the firing position of the breechblock 1, 2 the end faces 19 of the extensions 16 run against the face 88 of the locking pins 26 and urge these into the support bores 25 as a result. During the further movement of the spring sleeve 8, the pins 26 bear with their end faces against the lateral faces 18 of the extensions 16 and, under the pressure of the springs 32, jump back into the locking position illustrated in FIGURE 5, in which their faces 27 lie behind the faces 17 of the extensions 16 on the spring sleeves, shortly before the control member 2 -bounces against the mushroom head l. This jumping back of the locking pins 26 into the locking position takes place before the control member 2 of the breechblock recoils from the firing position and, during this movement, the lateral faces 18 of the extensions 16 on the spring sleeves 8 displaced within the control member, come behind the pins 26 and these can therefore no longer prevent the recoil of the control member 2.

Thus, on the recoil of the control member 2, the faces 17 of the extensions 16 on the spring sleeves abut against the faces 27 of the locking pins 26 whereupon any further movement of the spring sleeves 8 going beyond this position, and hence of the control member 2 into a position in which this no longer reinforces the bolts 14 is prevented for the time being. The shock acting on the locking pins 26 on the impact of the spring sleeves 8 is transmitted to the supports and from these, damped lby the springs 37, to the sleeves 35 and hence to the breech casing 6. These springs 37 restore the supports 20, which are displaced slightly relative to the sleeves 35 during the shock, while their dogs 21 are guided in the grooves 22, back into the initial position. The spring sleeves 8 are also moved back into their front end position by the breech-closing springs 11.

The return movement of the control member 2 into the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 in which the bolts 14V are swung inwards out of the locking position into the release position is effected after the firing of the cartridge 87, through the release rods 50. These are displaced in known manner not illustrated in the drawing by the pressure of gases branched off from the barrel of the weapon and 'act on the end faces 19 of the spring sleeves 8 and through these on the control member 2.

As can be seen from FIGURE 5, the ends of the release rods 50 abut, at the beginning of their backward movement, against the faces 49 of the levers 44 so that these are pivoted about their axes 45 and the locking pins 26 are displaced inwards so quickly by the lever arm 47 acting on their arms 28 and moving inwards that the faces 17 of the extensions 16 on the spring sleeves 8 being accelerated backwards cannot rebound on their locking faces 27. The travel of the release rods 50 is so great that they engage behind the levers 44 by means of which the locking pins 26 are held in the release position until the end faces 19 of the spring sleeves 8 come behind the locking pins 26. The release rods 50 are restored to their initial position by the return springs 89. After their release, the levers 44 are swung back, under the pressure of the spring 90 Iacting on the carriage, into the initial position shown in FIGURE 5 so that the pins 26 are also urged back into the locking position by the springs 32. The breechblock 1, 2 is released as a result of the unhampered movement of the sleeves 8 and is displaced backwards.

The cocking of the breach, that is to say the withdrawal of the breechblock 1, 2 out of the firing position (FIG- URE 1) into the hooked position in which it is held by a detent lever, not illustrated in the drawing, of the trigger mechanism, is effected by means of the wire cable 66 of the cocking mechanism. Before the beginning of the cocking, the sleeve 72 is pushed back by hand, against the force of the spring 78, and so its extension 73 is withdrawn from the slot 69 in the housing 62 and this is released. The housing 62 guided in the groove 61 is pulled back by the wire cable 66 and at the beginning of this movement, the lever 56, which is in driving connection with the housing 62, is pivoted, in counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 8) and the carriage 53 is displaced towards the left. As a result of this movement of the carriage 53, the other lever 56 is also turned.

The movement of these levers 56 is transmitted, through the pins 45, to the levers 44 and their arms 47 are swung inwards so that the pins 26 are moved back into the release position in which their faces 27 no longer engage behind the faces 17 on the extensions 16 of the sleeves. The pins 26 are held in this position until the lever 56 bearing with the arms 81 against the face 75 of the housing 62, after passing the front end of the housing 62, can be swung back into the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 under the pressure of the force of the spring 90 transmitted through the carriage 53. This restoring movement of the lever 56 leads to the swinging back of the levers y44 into the position illustrated in FIG- URE 5 so that their arms 47 release the pins 26 and these are urged back into the locking position by the springs 32.

By means of the dogs 67 pressing againnt the face 19 of the spring sleeve 8 during the backward movement of the housing 62 the dogs, and hence also the control member 2 and the second sleeve 8 which is like-wise coupled thereto, are also displaced backwards. When, during this backward movement, the faces 17 of the sleeves 8 have reached the plane in which the locking faces 27 of the pins 26 lie, these are already in the release position so that the sleeves 8 can move, with their extensions 16, without hindrance past the pins 26. The length of the housing 62 is such that it reinforces the lever arm 81 at least until the end faces 19 of the sleeves 8 lie behind the pins 26.

The mushroom head 1 is released during the backward movement of the sleeves 8 and of the control member 2 so that the breechblock 1, 2 as a whole can then be displaced into the cocked position, overcoming the force of the breech-closing springs 11.

After the cocking is completed, no further tension is exerted by the wire cable 664 on the housing 62 and this can therefore be moved back into the initial position illustrated in FIGURE 7 by the spring 64. In the course of this, the inclined face 75 of the housing 62, pivoting the lever 56 as a result, runs against the arm 81 which remains supported by the face 75 of the housing 62 until this has reached the front end position. Furthermore, when the housing face 75 runs on its end face 74, the sleeve 72 is urged so far into the bore 71 that the extension 73 bears against the wall 68 of the housing 62 and when the housing 62 has reached the front end position it snaps into the slot 69.

As can be seen from FIGURE 8, the housing 62 is thus held in its end position between the face 84 of the security pin 51 and the sleeve extension 73. Thus, during the reciprocating motion which the breech casing 6 executes during the ltiring, a relative motion is prevented from occurring between this and the housing 62, the lever 56 being pivoted by the housing 62 in the manner described above and the pins 26 -being temporarily moved into the release position and so permitting the recoil of the control member 2 into that position in which the locking of the mushroom head 1 is released.

As can be seen from the above description, when a force is exerted on the face 27 of a pin 26, no movement thereof is initiated. In order that the pin 26 may remain in the locking position under the said action of force, the face 27 should, at most, form an angle with its direction of movement determined by the bore 25 in the support 20, which corresponds to the angle of friction.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES I9 and l0, parts which remain the same are designated by the same reference numerals as in FIGURES 1-8.

A support 91 is mounted for displacement and guided in two lateral grooves 92 (FIGURE 10) in the breech casing 6. This support 91 has a groove 94 having a widened portion which is bounded towards the rear by two faces 129, 131. A lever 109 is mounted for pivoting about a pin 111 secured to the support 91 in this widened portion 110 of the groove 94. The front, thinner end 112 of the lever 109 carries cylindrical extensions 113 at both sides, which are directed parallel to the pin 111. The lever 109 comprises a stop surface 114. A further lever 115 is secured to the pin 45 pivotally mounted in the breech casing 6. The lever 115 comprises two slots 116, 117, perpendicular to one another, and a control surface 130. The front end 112 of the lever 109 projects into the slot 116 in the lever 115 and the two extensions 113 on the lever 109 are guided in the slot 117 in the lever 115. A pin 119 is mounted for displacement in a bore 118 in the lever 115, which bore is directed perpendicular to the pin 45 and leads into the slot 117. A spring 120 which bears on the one hand against the bottom of the bore 18 and on the other hand against the pin 119 tends to urge the pin 119 against the two stops 113 of the lever 109. A pin 121 secured to the lever 115 projects into a recess in the pin 119 as a result of which the travel of the pin 119 is limited.

A lever 122 is pivotally mounted on a pin 123 secured to the support 91. The pin 123 is directed parallel to the pin 111 of the lever 109. The lever 122 comprises a irst cam-like extension 124 as well as a second cam-like extension 125 which bears against a cam 126 on the lever 109.

A sleeve 93 of rectangular cross-section is guided for displacement in the groove 94 in the support 91 and has an end 99. A pin 96 is mounted for displacement in a longitudinal bore 95 in the sleeve 93. Secured to the pin 96 is a pin 97 which projects into a slot 98 in the sleeve 93 extending parallel to the axis of the bore 95, as a result of which the travel of the pin 96 in the sleeve 93 is limited. Between the pin 96 and the 99 of the sleeve 93 there is inserted a cylindrical rubber buier 100. The pin 96 has a head 104 which bears against the extension 124 on the lever 122. A rail 127, which is secured to the sleeve 8 in a manner not illustrated, comprises an end face 128 which is disposed perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve 8 and parallel to the end 99 of the sleeve 93. The sleeve 93 projects into the path of the rail 127.

A pin 102 is mounted for displacement in a blind hole 101 in the support 91. The pin 102 is loaded by a spring 103 bearing against the bottom of the blind hole 101, as a result of which its head 132 bears against an insert member 105 which bears against the wall 106 tbounding the groove 92. Secured to the pin 102 is a pin 107 which projects into a slot 108, directed parallel to the axis of the bore, in the wall of the bore 101 and limits the travel of the pin 102.

The mode of operation is as follows: When the sleeve 8 is in its front end position (FIGURE 9) the stop face 114 on the lever 109 is in the path of the extension 16 on the sleeve 8. The spacing of the stop face 114 from the face 17 of the sleeve extension 16 is just large enough for the control member 2 of the breechblock to be still eifective on the stop face 114 at the moment of impact of the sleeve extension 16 on the stop face 114. Under the action of the spring 120, the head of the pin 119 bears against the extensions 113 on the lever 109. The line of action of the force of the spring 120 is directed in such a manner that a torque acting in counter-clockwise direction (seen as in FIGURE 9) is exerted on the lever 109. As a result, the lever 109 is held supported against the face 129 for the support 91. The control face 130 on the lever 115 projects into the path of the release rod 50.

After the tiring of a shot, the release rod 50, displaced towards the rear, rebounds against the lateral face 130 of the lever 115 as a result of which this is pivoted in counterclockwise direction about the pin 45. In the course of this, the lever 109 is also displaced and turned so far in clockwise direction that it strikes against the face 131 on the support 91. The lever 109 is held in this position by the force of the spring 120 which now acts thereon, turning in clockwise direction. During the pivoting of the lever 109, the lever 124, which is in driving connection therewith through the cam 125, is turned about the pin 123 by the extension 126. As a result, the pin 96 bearing with the head 104 against the lever 122 is driven towards the rear with the butter 100 and the sleeve 93, the sleeve 93 being guided in the groove in the support 91. During the pivoting of the lever 109, the stop face 114 comes out of the path of the extension 16 on the sleeve 8 so quickly that this cannot impinge.

During the renewed forward travel of the sleeve 8, its extension 16 travels past the lever 109 without being touched by this. When the face 17 of the sleeve extension 16 has come in front of the stop face 114 on the lever 109, the end face 128 of the rail 127 rebounds against the sleeve 93 as a result of ywhich this is driven forwards with the butter and the pin 96. The lever 122 driven by the pin 96 pivots in clockwise direction and turns the lever 109 in counterclockwise direction about the pin 111 until this strikes against the face 129 of the support 91. The stop face 114 of the lever 109 enters the path of the sleeve extension 16 as a result before the sleeve 8 can move backwards. At the end of its movement, the lever 122 bears against the lever 109. The shock exerted on the sleeve 93 on the impact of the rail 127 is damped by the buffer 100 and transmitted to the pin 96 and to the levers 122 and 109.

If the control member recoils from the tiring position and the sleeve 8 displaced towards the rear together therewith strikes against the stop face 114 on the lever 109, a moment acting in counterclockwise direction is exerted thereon. As a result, the lever is held bearing against the face 129 of the support 91. The shock is transmitted through the lever pin 111 to the support 91 and by this, damped by the spring 103, through the pin 102 and the insert member 105 to the breech casing 6.

In the same manner as described in detail in the first embodiment, the lever 11S mounted on the pin 45 is pivoted in counterclockwise direction during the cocking of the breech and the lever 109 is displaced from the locking position into the release position as a result.

The advantage of this second form of construction consists in that the stop member, that is to say the lever 109, does not exert any pressure on the sleeve 8 travelling in the front end position. Accordingly, the control member of the breechblock displaced with the sleeve 8 is not braked by any additional frictional force and its energy, serving to tire the cartridge, is not reduced until immediately before the control member 2 impinges on the mushroom head 1, that is to say at the beginning of the penetration of the striker pin.

I claim:

1. An automatic rearm comprising a breech casing, a breechblock in said casing, a control member associated with said beechblock for locking said breechblock in tiring position in said breech casing, a setting member operated by gas pressure after the tiring of a cartridge for moving said control member backwardly along a path from said tiring position into an inoperative position in which said breechblock is released, stop means bearing against said breech casing in said tiring position projecting into said path to brake the recoil of said control member, said stop means forming a stop -which during the recoil movement of said control member is in said path and limits the recoil so that said control member is still in its operative position, means operated by said setting member after the recoil of said control member displacing said stop means out of the path of said control member, said means displacing said stop means comprising a restoring means comprising an arm on said stop means, a pivotable lever bearing against said arm projecting within range of said setting member so that, on displacement of said setting member for releasing said breechblock said lever is pivoted and said stop means is displaced to release said control member whereupon said control member is displaced.

2. An automatic irearm as claimed in claim 1 wherein a mechanism for cocking said breechblock is provided and a second lever is connected to said lever projecting within range of said mechanism so that before the cocking of said breechblock said second lever will bring said stop means out of engagement with said control member.

3. An automatic firearm as claimed in claim 2 wherein said control member is operationally connected to means comprising a pair of sleeves, a breechblock closing spring in each of said sleeves, a dog and a coupling member connecting each sleeve to said control member, said stop means comprising two pins, each of said pins having a rst stop face, an extension on each of said sleeves having a second stop face cooperating with said lirst stop face,

a carriage slidingly mounted in said casing having a groove, each of said second levers having an arm projecting into said groove and a spring urging said carriage to a position where said second levers remove said pivotable levers from engagement with said arm on said stop means.

4. An automatic firearm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means displacing said stop means outside of the path of said control member is a toggle joint movable to both sides comprising a pivotable element, a restoring member cooperating therewith, a spring mounted in said restoring member urging said pivotable element when said control member is in firing position into the path of said control member and when said control member is in the inoperative position urging it out of the path thereof.

5. An automatic firearm as set forth in claim 4 wherein a rail is coupled to said control member by transmission members and a third lever so that upon a forward movement of said control member said toggle joint will displace said Stop means into the path of said control member against the force of said spring.

6. An automatic firearm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means displacing said stop means out of the path of said control member is a toggle joint.

7. An automatic firearm as claimed in claim 4 wherein said restoring member has a longitudinal bore therein, a pin movable in said `bore cooperating with said spring, an extension upon said pivotal element coacting with said pin and guide faces upon said restoring member guiding said extension.

8. An automatic firearm comprising a breech casing, a breechblock mounted in said casing displaceable into a firing position, means for locking said breechblock in firing position, a control member controlling said locking of said breechblock displaceable out of a tiring position in which the firing takes place, along a path into an operative and an inoperative position, a setting member driven by gas pressure after the ring of a cartridge, said setting member displacing said control member into said inoperative position releasing said breechblock, stop members which bear against said breech casing, said stop members when said control member is in firing position and in said operative position, projecting into the path of said control member and during the recoil movement of said control member projecting into said path to prevent a recoil of said control member into said inoperative position, means oper-ated by said setting member after the recoil of said control member, displacing said stop members out of the path of said control member, said displacing means comprising an arm on each of said stop members, a restoring member comprising a first pivotable lever having an arm which bears against said arm of each stop member, said lever arm projecting within range of said setting member so that, on displacement of said setting member for the release of said breechblock, said lever arm is first pivoted and the stop member is displaced out of the path of said control member to release said control member.

9. An automatic firearm as claimed in claim 8 having a device for withdrawing sad breechblock comprising a second ylever having an arm connected to said first lever arm of said restoring member actuated by said device to bring said stop members out of engagement with said control member before withdrawal of said breechblock.

10. An automatic firearm as claimed in claim 8 wherein said control member comprises two coupling members and two sleeves which are each connected through a cam secured to the sleeves to the coupling members of said control member a breech-closing spring in each sleeve tending to displace said control member into firing position, an extension on each sleeve, a first stop face on each extension, and said stop members comprises two pins, each of said pins having a second stop face cooperating with said first stop face to prevent the recoil of said control member.

11. An automatic firearm as claimed in claim 8 c0mprising a first means to hold said stop members out of the path of said control member and a second means actuated by said control member for displacing said stop members into the path of said control member.

12. An automatic firearm as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first means comprise two toggle joints which can bend to both sides, said toggle joints being formed from said stop members, two restoring levers, a spring on each restoring lever, said springs tending to bend said toggle joints to one of said two sides to urge said stop members into the path of said control Imember when said control member is in firing position, and said springs tending to bend said toggle joints to the other of said two sides to urge said stop -members out of the path of said control member when in inoperative position.

13. An automatic firearm as claimed in claim 11 wherein said second means comprise two rails connected to said control member and transmission members and a rocking lever cooperating with each rail bending said stop members to one of said sides during the forward movement of said control member urging them into the path of said control member.

14. An automatic firearm as claimed in claim 12 wherein a longitudinal bore is provided in each restoring lever, a pin mounted for displacement in each longitudinal bore, an extension on each stop member against which said pin is urged by said spring, and guide faces on each restoring lever on which said extension is guided.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,318,191 5/1967 Reed. 3,348,453 10/1967 Muhlemann 89-180 FOREIGN PATENTS 65,005 10'/ 1946 Denmark.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner STEPHEN C. BENTLEY, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 89-187, 189, 19() 

